"So that not one of the elect shall perish, but all arrive safely in glory." Not that there are no difficulties, no enemies; they are many and great. But just as in the case of the spies, ten of whom "brought up an evil report of the land" when they magnified the giants and the walls of the cities above the promise of God and His faithfulness, there was a Caleb and a Joshua who spoke for God and "stilled" the people (Num. 13), so now faith in the souls of the elect will speak for the faithfulness of the Lord to His promise: "Ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God. ye might receive the promise" (Heb. 10.36). And ultimately these all shall, as "the ransomed of the Lord, return to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads" (Isa. 35.10). God having provided for them an eternal inheritance. He will keep them by His power through faith, and will lead them all safe into their desired haven of rest in due time. Christ having "gone to prepare a place for" each one for whom He died, they shall - "when the work of grace is done" - be received to Himself to occupy their place for ever.
"Then, when landed on that shore,
Where my mind was fixed before,
In sweet raptures I shall see
All my safety was in Thee."
"And no others." Being so vast, so personal a matter. it were well for each closely and sincerely to examine for himself: not abstractly, "Am I one of the elect?" so much as, "Is the Holy Ghost working in my soul? Am I quickened by His power'? Have I union with Christ? Did He bear my sins away on the cross? Is He my great Forerunner in heaven, my Advocate there?" Yet, though not abstractly, the Holy Ghost does assure exercised people in spite of all their fears and storms and doubts and temptations and sins that they are interested in the sovereign, amazing choice of God: "Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you" (John 15.16). Says Peter, "Give diligence, brethren, to make your calling and election sure" (2 Pet. 1.10).
What Gospel Standard Baptists Believe. J.H. Gosden. Gospel Standard Societies, 8 Fairleigh Rise, Kington Langley, Chippenham, Wilts. SN15 5QF. 1993. Pages 47-48.